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Trump, Zelensky hold phone call — senior Ukrainian official

"A very important and meaningful conversation," Andrey Yermak said

MOSCOW, July 4. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky held "a very important" phone call on Friday, the head of Zelensky’s office, Andrey Yermak, said.

"A very important and meaningful conversation," Yermak shared on his Telegram channel. "All details [to follow] quite soon," he added.

On Thursday, Trump talked with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone.

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Syrian Health Ministry says ‘dozens of bodies’ discovered at hospital in Suwayda

Syrian Health Minister Musaab al-Ali told the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) that a convoy of 15 ambulances was unable to enter the province of Suwayda, impeded by Israeli aircraft

Ukraine limits operations amid Russian offensive due to US arms delays — media

The sources noted that Ukrainian troops "express exasperation and anger" over the uncertainty surrounding new US arms shipments

Press review: Trump lashes out at Moscow as Zelensky reshuffles cabinet and extends law

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, July 15th

US arms supplies to Ukraine never stopped but EU now foots bill — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov also added that "Europeans have become obsessed with their militaristic mindset, declaring their intention to spend unthinkable funds on arms purchases," to continue fueling the war even further

Liberation of Novokhatskoye paves way for further Russian advance

According to the report, the Russian Defense Ministry Service members of 36th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade of Battlegroup East carried out a successful offensive operation

Ukrainian lawmakers vote to allow people over 60 years old to serve

The bill enables those who have turned 60 but "are still willing and physically fit to remain in the army" to sign up for military service

NATO strike on Transnistria would derail talks, lawmaker warns

Andrey Safonov cited media reports about the deployment of military advisers from Romania and France to Moldova

Armenian PM Pashinyan announces his country’s request to join SCO

Armenia would like to maintain partnership relations in the north, in the south, in the west, and in the east, Nikol Pashinyan explained

Russian forces capture foreign mercenaries in DPR, scout says

According to the scout with the callsign Husky, the foreigners were stationed in a building that Russian forces seized in about five minutes

Russia, other BRICS members to defend their interests — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister noted that a gradual pivot away from the dollar is now unstoppable, with statistics confirming the trend by showing how the dollar's share in world trade has changed

Russian writer Akunin’s legal defense files appeal against his 14-year imprisonment

Boris Akunin was sentenced by a court’s decision in absentia to 14 years in prison on charges of publicly justifying terrorism, aiding terrorist activities and evading obligations under Russia’s laws on foreign agents

Ukrainians post military recruitment center addresses on social media — source

The source added that "such publication demonstrate real attitudes in Ukraine toward mobilization and the ongoing conflict"

Trump says 50 days is not too long to reach deal on Ukraine

As the US president claimed, "it could be sooner than that"

Trump seeks to break deadlock, spark dialogue on Ukraine — senator

According to Grigory Karasin, the overwhelming majority of politicians and observers feel the impasse

Lavrov says NATO failed to ‘swallow’ Ukraine but makes it look like it will succeed later

According to the minister, NATO countries want to "advance their infrastructure to the Far East, Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia, and to create nuclear-capable alliances there"

Europe can’t produce weapons that Ukraine needs, says US envoy to NATO

"The US is the premier manufacturer of these weapons systems and they are going to deliver them to Europe and Europe is going to pay for them," US Permanent Representative to NATO Matt Whitaker said

FACTBOX: What we know about Ukraine’s overnight drone attack on Russian regions

According to the latest data, sixteen people were injured in a Ukrainian UAV attack on the southern Voronezh Region

Russia interested in developing ties with Armenia in all areas — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that Moscow and Yerevan are still united by very close bilateral relations

Czech Republic not to join US plan on arms purchases for Ukraine — PM

Petr Fiala said Prague will focus on other projects and tracks to help Ukraine

Putin to respond to Trump’s remarks if he deems it necessary — Kremlin

On July 14, the US president made a previously announced statement on the Ukraine issue

NATO countries uninterested in peace in Ukraine — Russian deputy foreign minister

Alexander Grushko recalled NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s remarks about plas to make Ukraine "more lethal"

China sees diplomacy as only option in Ukrainian crisis — Foreign Ministry on NATO threats

Lin Jian also expressed hope that "all parties will be able to contribute to further resolution of the Ukrainian crisis"

Trump's tariff ultimatum against Russia political maneuver — analyst

Malek Dudakov suggested that even if sanctions are imposed against Russia, the United States will make a large number of exceptions

Slovakia, Malta block anti-Russian sanctions package — Reuters

Slovakia is going to block sanctions until its concerns are eliminated concerning the carve-out for it from the plan of the European Commission to fully ban Russian gas purchases since 2027

Europe’s aggressive stance borders on irrationality — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov said that the Europeans are displaying a completely aggressive militarist stance, declaring their intention to spend enormous funds to purchase weapons, to further provoke the continuation of war

Trump’s decision on Ukraine aimed at freezing settlement until September — expert

Alexander Mikhailov suggested that the delay could have been caused by the fact that the summer recess is currently under way in the United States and Europe, and active political life will resume no earlier than September

Senior Russian diplomat calls Trump ultimatum 'strange' as Kiev was not asked to negotiate

"The course they are following is absolutely clear to us: it is aimed at exhausting Russia as much as possible," Alexander Grushko stressed

US President Trump denies talking to Putin after his July 14 statements

On July 14, US leader said that Washington decided to continue providing weapons and other military equipment to Kiev if Europe picked up the bill for such supplies

Russian basketballer Kasatkin voices concerns over conditions in French prison — embassy

The embassy has reportedly relayed Daniil Kasatkin’s concerns to the prison administration

Israel vows to cease attacks on Syrian military facilities — source from Axios

Earlier, a curfew was imposed in Al-Suwayda, as the Internal Security Forces and the Syrian army drove self-defense squads from the city center

Former Romanian presidential candidate Georgescu to remain under court-ordered supervision

Georgescu is banned from leaving Romania without a permit from the authorities and wearing weapons

Russia will not tolerate demands — senior diplomat about Trump’s new plan

Sergey Ryabkov emphasized that Moscow favors a diplomatic resolution of the Ukraine conflict and is ready to negotiate

American who backed Moscow in Donbass writes book about his experience

From 2022 to 2024, Daniel Richard Martindale was on a territory controlled by the Kiev regime where, risking his life, he was gathering information for Russia

Ukraine’s economy shrunk by at least twofold — former Ukrainian PM

According to Nikolay Azarov, the national budget amounts to roughly $60 bln, but the bulk of this figure consists of subsidies

Russia seeks clarity on Trump’s 50-day Ukraine deadline — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat pointed to earlier deadlines of 24 hours and of 100 days

Kremlin warns of harsh impact on Europeans’ wallets from EU policy

On Monday, Donald Trump announced that the US will sell modern weapons to NATO member states to be delivered to Ukraine

EU pushback on US arms purchases could signal NATO rift — expert

Alexander Stepanov said that there is now fierce competition for pan-European defense budgets, in which Paris is trying to maintain its partially independent position, taking into account the real capabilities of its own military-industrial complex

Typhoon-PVO combat vehicle completes state tests

Vehicle has entered mass production, Director General of the Kupol plant Fanil Ziyatdinov reported

EU to adopt 18th package of sanctions against Russia in near future — German minister

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned Russian President Vladimir Putin against underestimating the situation

NATO remains a key threat to Russia’s security — Shoigu

The Russian Security Council secretary drew attention to the fact that "according to official data alone, the size of the alliance’s military personnel equals over 4 million troops and the bloc has over 50,000 tanks and armored fighting vehicles"

Russia and Nigeria discuss energy sector cooperation

Special attention was given to cooperation within the frameworks of OPEC+ and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum

Press review: Trump’s military plans in focus as Russian experts dismiss tariff threat

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, July 16th

Berlin turns dangerous again — Kremlin on German defense minister’s remarks

Dmitry Peskov commented on Boris Pistorius’ statement that Germans are ready to kill Russian soldiers in the event of a war between the two countries

IN BRIEF: What we know about Israeli strikes on Syria

According to the media reports, the drone strike targeted the Syrian army’s military equipment; no accurate date is available on damage and casualties among troops

Paris, allies discuss sending troops to Ukraine, French politician says

When speaking about how French citizens would react to such a decision, Bruno Fuchs noted that French President Emmanuel Macron didn't need to worry about what the voting public thinks

EU fails to agree on anti-Russian sanctions again — Kallas

The discussion at the level of ambassadors will "continue tomorrow," Vice President of the European Commission noted

Armenian PM says country more likely to exit CSTO than restore membership

Earlier, Nikol Pashinyan said that Yerevan had frozen participation in the work of the CSTO, as it allegedly created threats to the sovereignty of the republic

Western aid to Ukraine not on up and up — expert

Alexey Mukhin said that Russia could help the world community to see and understand this corruption scheme

Bank of Russia may lower key rate to 18% annually in July — lawmaker

On June 6, the Bank of Russia lowered the key rate by 100 basis points to 20% annually, after a prolonged period of maintaining it at 21%

Artificial US structures in South Caucasus not to work, Russian role safe — expert

Stanislav Pritchin explained that the precedents of external control of transport corridors are extremely rare and it is difficult to imagine that Azerbaijan would agree to depend on an infrastructure that is not entirely friendly to Azerbaijan

More than half of Americans do not approve of Trump’s policy course — survey

41% of the Americans positively assess the president’s actions

Number of wounded in Ukrainian attack on Voronezh Region grows to 27 people — governor

Alexander Gusev said that 14 people required hospitalization, including four minors, the rest were treated on an outpatient basis

Ukraine awaits clarification on Trump’s promise related to Patriot systems

Skibitsky said Trump in his comments on Patriots could have been referring to interceptor missiles, launching stations or entire batteries comprising multiple launchers and radar and control systems

EU's economic suicide continues — RDIF CEO Dmitriev

The European Commission has included a 100 billion euro expenditure item to support Ukraine in the conflict with Russia in the draft

Even with Western arms Kiev may struggle to sustain conflict — Ukrainian lawmaker

Victoria Grib said that the Western partners must provide assistance to the Kiev regime with personnel

Kremlin urges broader support in pushing Ukraine to resume talks

Dmitry Peskov said that mediatory efforts mostly from the United States are key here

Ukraine builds defense line near Kupyansk but can’t hold off Russian forces — officials

According to the latest reports, forward units of the Russian Armed Forces are already one or two kilometers from the outskirts of Kupyansk, which is confirmed by reports from local residents

Trump says unnecessary holding another urgent round of talks with Iran

"I'm in no rush to talk, because we obliterated their site," the US leader said

US supplies of Patriot missile defense systems underway according to NATO deal, says Trump

On July 14, Trump said that Washington decided to continue providing weapons and other military equipment to Kiev if Europe picked up the bill for such supplies

Russian troops liberate Novokhatskoye community in Donetsk region over past day

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,255 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours

US fine with Sviridenko’s appointment as PM as she signed minerals deal — former PM

Nikolay Azarov pointed out that Yuliya Sviridenko "has never worked a single day at a specific business or industrial enterprise"

Economic relations with Russia more important for countries than trade with the US

Adviser of the Center of Expertise for WTO matters Maxim Medvedkov noted that countries with extra tariffs applied against them may not stop procurements in Russia

UN special rapporteur calls on Hague Group countries to sever relations with Israel

"To consider occupation as a routine business practice means to be its accomplice," Francesca Albanese said

Zelensky says 'ready for action' if Kiev gets longer-range weapons

Vladimir Zelensky also downplayed the possibility of Kiev using this force, saying that Russia should know "about its existence"

Prospects for resuming Russia-Europe dialogue exist — top Russian security official

Sergey Shoigu pointed to the growing number of Europeans who doubt Brussels’s strategy of uncompromising confrontation with Russia

Ukraine turns into 'toxic' secondary issue for NATO, top Russian security official says

Sergey Shoigu specified that since 2022, NATO members had allocated over $234 bln in aid to the Zelensky regime, with the US providing more than half of that money

Russia to consider construction of access roads to borders with China, North Korea — Putin

"This will significantly increase our transit capabilities," the Russian leader stressed

Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 125 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Kiev believes Trump's communication style misleading — media

Vadim Skibitsky, Deputy head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, complained on Tuesday about the lack of accuracy in Trump’s announcement of a transfer of 17 Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems to Kiev

'Inappropriate' pressure on Trump and sanction war: Lavrov’s remarks

The Russian foreign minister emphasized that the anti-Russian sanctions war will backfire on those who started it

Trump didn’t encourage Ukraine to make more strikes inside Russia, White House says

Karoline Leavitt said that the US president was merely asking a question, not encouraging further killing

Kiev capable of coming up with its own ‘dirty bomb,’ says country’s ex-PM Azarov

According to Nikolay Azarov, Ukraine currently lacks the scientific potential to create capable nuclear weapons

Remnants of sanity in Europe, nuclear doctrine provisions: new comments from Kremlin

All provisions of Russia's nuclear doctrine, including the responsibility of nuclear powers to "encourage" non-nuclear states, remain unchanged

Russian diplomat says that in absence of real negotiations, special op to continue

"We are unshakable in this position. We would like Washington and NATO in general to treat it with the utmost seriousness," Sergey Ryabkov stated

Russia’s Medvedev responds to Trump by saying 'one really bad thing' would be WWIII

Donald Trump said earlier on Tuesday that if it weren’t for him "really bad things would have already happened to Russia"

Houthis send drones to attack military facility, southern Israeli port of Eilat

In a speech aired by the Houthi-controlled Al Masirah television, the movement’s military spokesman Yahya Saree said the movement has carried out "a well-coordinated operation with the use of three drones"

Russia does not care about Trump’s 'theatrical ultimatum,' says Medvedev

This is Moscow’s first official reaction to the statements Trump made yesterday

Putin opens M-12 East highway section

The highway crosses territories of Bashkortostan, the Perm Region, and the Sverdlovsk Region

China unlikely to abandon Russian oil over Trump tariffs — experts

Director of Research at the Institute for Energy and Finance Alexey Belogoryev likewise does not expect any immediate impact on the market from the potential tariffs

Kremlin finds Trump’s latest remarks serious, says will need time to analyze his rhetoric

At a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the US leader said he was "disappointed" with Russia and personally President Vladimir Putin

China-Russia relations will continue to advance amid global turbulence — expert

Liu Jun expressed confidence that mutual trust between Moscow and Beijing will strengthen in the future

Paris not going to join initiative of sending US weapons to Kiev — newspaper

According to the report, French President Emmanuel Macron has long advocated for Europeans to build up their own defense industrial base by buying weapons made by European manufacturers

Trump says Ukraine shouldn’t strike Moscow

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier that the US president did not encourage Vladimir Zelensky to carry out further strikes deeper inside Russia

Hungary opposes allocating €100 billion from EU budget to Ukraine — Orban

According to the Hungarian PM, the European Commission’s budget initiative "surprised everyone" in the EU

Trump’s weapons announcement may fuel armed conflict, former Ukrainian PM says

Nikolay Azarov said that the Kiev regime is financed totally by the West, including through the delivery of weapons and even equipment for the maintenance of thermal power plants

Capture of Voskresenka gave Russia control of 5 km of DPR border, analyst says

According to Andrey Marochko, the liberation of Voskresenka also points to a consistent advance of Russian forces near the settlement of Komar

Russia closely monitors issue of long-range arms supplies to Kiev regime — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, this topic is certainly near the top of the agenda

Russian army traps Ukrainian battlegroup in two pockets near Dzerzhinsk in DPR — expert

Given the Russian army’s advance near Katerinovka, the Ukrainian troops "that tried to hold their positions as long as possible" may also be encircled, Andrey Marochko added

Critical infrastructure sites damaged in two regions in Ukraine’s north

Objects were damaged in the settlements of Khotiyevka and Glukhov

Kiev views Trump’s remarks as green light for war, not peace — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, the US president voiced the decision "made both by Washington, NATO countries and directly in Brussels"

Russian troops about to encircle Kupyansk, Kiev forces in dire situation — official

Vitaly Ganchev added that the mood of Ukrainian armed formations and mobilized soldiers is low

No survivors in helicopter crash in Russia’s Khabarovsk region — Emergencies Ministry

"Russian Emergencies Ministry rescuers jointly with investigators are analyzing fragments of the aircraft and looking for flight recorders at the site of the crash to establish the cause behind it," the ministry said.

Von der Leyen's standing as EU chief 'shaken' — MEP

According to Zsuzsanna Borvendeg, it was clear in advance that the vote of no confidence would not pass, but the fact that the matter was even put to a vote was a signal in itself

Syria says has right to self-defense amid Israeli strikes

The Syrian Foreign Ministry called on residents of the city of Al-Suwayda to "rally around the Syrian army and not take part in any suspicious projects," without specifying which projects it meant

Melania Trump could have influenced decision on arms supplies to Ukraine — The Times

As the paper points out, despite the large number of national security advisers and foreign policy analysts in the White House, it is the wife of the US president whose opinion may be the most significant

IDF reports striking Syria’s military headquarters in Damascus

The attack was carried out amid the escalation in the south of Syria where clashes between gunmen from Arab tribes and Druze self-defense forces supported by Israel are taking place

Trump gives no clear answer whether he expects to meet with Putin

US President suggested to see how things would go with Putin, adding that so far, he is very disappointed with him

BRICS gaining strength as alternative to unipolar US model — observer

"China, Russia, and other non-Western countries are building a viable alternative to the US-led world order," Ted Snider wrote

Kremlin reminds nuclear powers of their responsibility for inciting non-nuclear states

Dmitry Peskov noted that Russia’s nuclear doctrine remains in effect

EU plans to militarize itself at Russia's expense — top security official

"The intention to militarize the European space is obvious," Sergey Shoigu said

Titanic efforts being made to derail Russia-US dialogue — RDIF CEO

Kirill Dmitriev said the Western media "should act more responsibly and actually check its sources"